Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-05-07
ERlCSSON'S DESTROYER.
Description of the IrOn-Clad and Its Pow
crful Submarine Gun.

crful Submarine Gun.
Outwardly the Dcstroyeris simply an
iron-clad vessel with
wedgc->hapcd bow and stern. 1t is
briefly described by the inventor as
follows: The Destroyer is an iron
vessel l50 feet long, II feet wide, II
feet deep, protected by a wrought iron
breast work of great strength applied
near the bow. The submarine gun,
formidable piecebf ordinance of 16-inch
caliber and 80 feet length, is placed on
the bottom of the vessel. the muzzlc
projecting through the opening in the
stem. The projectile expelled by the
submarine gun is % feet long, its
weight being l,500 pounds, including
an explosive charge of 800 pounds of
gun-cottoA. The Destroyer attacks
bows on, and discharges the proioctile
at a distance of 800 feet from the ship
attacked, The explosion of S00pounds
of gun-cotton against the lower part
of Il ship hull will shatter it so COM
pletely that the eXpedient Of employ
ing water-tight compartments will be
of no avail. 1t may be added, for the
clearer comprehension of those not eX-
perts, that the water is prevented from
rushing through the gun into the bilge
by an out-board valve, opened and
closed automatically. The body Of the
torpedo is Of wood, shaped like huge
cigar. The point or dynamite end IS
made of copper. The initial velocity
with which the torpedo leaves the gun is
at the rate of 250 miles an hour, or 250
feet a second. With minimum charge
of powdcrin the gun the projectile tray-
erscd the first 800 feet in three
seconds. In the experiments made
by naval board two years ago,
common cord MEETINGS were used
to determine whether there was
really any trajectory in the travel OF
the torpedo. At firing distances OF
25O feet the course of the torpedo
through the water was in perfectly
straight line. The tide currents had
no effect on the course Of the torpedo,
nor could its course be detected as il
travelled through the water. The tor.
pedo is exploded by conclusion, and i,
calculated to strike vessel at any
| point below the Watcr-lnc. The ma
chncry of the vessel occupies a spac,
less than eight feet square, and is en-
tirely below the watcr-linc and below
the intermediate deck, so that it is i'm
| possible for the boat to become dis
ablcd from the shots of the enemy
An important feature in the construc
ton of the vessel is an intermediate
curved deck, extending from stem t.
stern, and composed Of plate irol
strongly ribbed and perfectly water
TIGHT. This intermediate deck sustain
heavy, solid armor plate, place.
transvcrSely to the line Of the kcc
| thirty-two feet from the bow, inclinc'
to an angle Of forty-tivc degrees, AM
supported on the after side by WOO,
backing four and Il half feet deep a
the base, The stcering-wheel is bchin'
this wood backing, A deck cabil
seventy feet long above this intcrme
dlatc deck affords quarters for the off
GERS and crews. The hemsman occu
pies Il pit in the forward end, fror
which he not only steers the vesse
but discharges the gun by an electri
battery upon signal. He watches tn
vessels course and the position of tn
enemy through a small port-hole Q
heavy plate glass, and is protected b
wrought-iron invulnerabe armor plat
sixteen inches in thickness.-Ioled
| BId1e